Jesus the Good Shepherd by Pastor Mun Heng Au Yong dated 24.5.15

Declare His glory among the nations,

His marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 96:3

Jesus comfort us and encourages us. 

John 10 Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd

John 10:16   Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Five Fundamentals of Mission

John 10:16  " I have other sheep......"

I. The Basis of mission.

Acts 18…..Paul’s evangelistic ministry at Corinth

vv. 9-10   In Corinth, Jesus said to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

John 10:16 "“...those other sheep that are not  of this sheep pen…”

II. The Scope of Missions

There are 6900 unreached groups with 2.5 billion people!

Pastor illustrated mission withe the story :

1. Old Testament : Story of Jonah

2. New Testament : Cornelius story

What hold back mission today?

Like Jonah : Prejudices? Indifference?

Like Peter : Near-sightedness? Ethnocentric?                   

Pre-occupation with Self?

John 10:16  “.....I must  bring them also……….”

III. The Motivation of Missions

Missions is a “must” with Jesus

Luke 19:10

2 Peter 3:9

1 Tim 2:4

We are not just saved from sin and hell, but we are saved to serve the purposes of God.

John 10:16  “…..They too will listen to my voice….”

IV. The Success of Missions

Rom 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Rom 10:14-15 

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?

And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

And how can they preach unless they are sent?

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Rom 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

John 10:16 “…..and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”

V. The Goal of Missions

Rev 7:9 “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” 

v.11……….they WORSHIPPED

A Passion to See God Glorified and Worshipped Among the Nations

Deuteronomy 5: Life from heaven for life on earth by Dr. Thomas Chung dated 17.5.15

Introduction

There are so many changes around the world, even in our country.  Values appeared to be eroded.  Many atheists claimed that there are no miracles like those stated in the Bible.  But we experienced miracles everyday!  It is indeed by the mercies and graces of God that we can live.  Nowadays people have much information, but that is not enough.  We must have knowledge accompanied by wisdom.

Deuteronomy chapter 5 spelt out The Ten Commandments.  God reminded the people of Himself.  Deu 5:7. Also refer to Romans 8:1.

The finger of God carved the 2 stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments the first time Moses received from God on the mountain.  Moses was angry with the Israelites after he came down from the mountain seeing them worshiping the golden calf than he threw the 2 tablets at them.  The second sets Moses carved the two tablets but God's fingers wrote the Ten Commandments again on the tablets.  All God's people are to obey these Commandments.

In John 14:15 Jesus re-confirmed the need to obey God's Commandments.  Keeping the Ten Commandments is a must and there is no exception. 

Of the Ten Commandments there are 2 "thou shall" and 8 "thous shall not".  Why are there 8 "thou shall not", this is because of man's rebellious nature. 

First four commandments concerned our attitudes and actions towards God.

The next six Commandments are about our actions towards fellow man.

1^st Commandment

There is only One God.  This spoke about the fear of God.  Like the 2 thieves who were crucified together with Jesus.  One mocked Jesus, and another corrected this thief who mocked Jesus saying there were deserving of the death sentence, but Jesus was not deserving because He was sinless.  This thief asked Jesus to remember him in heaven, which Jesus assured him that he will be in heaven with God.  Such was the fear of God.

2^nd Commandment

Idolatry is a abomination to God.  God hates a) idolatry b) injustice to the poor.

3^rd Commandment

God name's is Holy and must not be misused.  The Jews respected God and His name so much that they were not suppose to utter God's name at all.  The word referring to God has no vowel, so it cannot be pronounced.  Instead, "Yahweh" was used.

4^th Commandment

Sabbath day rest.  Resting in God knowing He is in control of everything.  The significant of Sabbath reminded us of the Creator who rested after Creation of the world. Exodus 31:15.

5^th Commandment

Honoring our parents is a must.  God said if we follow this Commandment we will have longer lives. Like the saying says "Charity begins at home".  Romans 1:30.

6^th Commandment

Life is sacred and we must not kill.

7^th Commandment

This Commandment talks about the sanctity of marriage.  Marriage is a covenant between two human.  Like Jesus is the bride of the church.

8^th Commandment

We should not steal, it is self explanatory.

9^th Commandment

We are not to be false witness.

10^th Commandment

We are not to covet our neighbour' wives.  Do not lust for others properties. One kind of lust is allowed.  It is lusting for the things of God.

Summary

Spirit of the law and Jesus spoke about it. Also about circumcision of our hearts.  There is no other option but to follow the Commandments of God.

Deuteronomy Chapter 4 by Tiong Tung Hui dated 3.5.15

Introduction

Deuteronomy was a repeating of God’s laws.  It was Moses’ sermon to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land.  Moses wanted to put God’s Words in their hearts and also renewing their Covenants with God before they enter the Promise Land.  Only by the Israelites commitments that God was going to let them posses the Promised Land, gave them peace and prosperity.

There were two phrases we heard often:

      a)      “Hear, Oh Israel”

      b)      “be care to do what I instructed”

This was almost a farewell sermon by Moses because he knew that he was going to die.  The Israelites wondered in the desert for 40 years, in the process they learnt a lot and also the older generations died.  Only the new generations were allowed into the Promised Land.

Most of the Israelites rebelled against Moses and against God.  We can see that in Numbers 13 Kadesh rebelled, 16, Korah rebelled and 33, idolatry and immorality set in.

There were many stories of the tendency of the Israelites to go away from God.  By this time Aaron has already died.  Moses must be heart broken, because Aaron was his companion and helper.

Moses pleaded with God three times to allow him to enter the Promised Land, but God refused to accept him.  Partly this was because of the sins of the Israelites as well as Moses’ own disobedience.  Instead of speaking to the rocks to allow water to flow, instead he struck the rock with his staff.  God did not forgive him.  God only allowed Moses to go to Mt. Nebo to have a glance of the Promise Land.

There are six lessons to Deuteronomy chapter 4:

       1.       Vs 1-8 the purpose of the law

       2.       Vs 9-14 the purpose of experience at Horeb

       3.       Vs 15-24 prohibition against idolatry

       4.       Vs 25-32 prophesy of the dispersion of the Israelites

       5.       Vs 32-40 acknowledge that the Lord alone is God

       6.       Vs 41-43 cities of refuge

     1.       The Purpose of the law

The people were to obey and observe the law.  They were not to add or subtract from the law. ( Revelation 22:18-19).  God reminded them of the incident in Baal-Peor ( Numbers 25 ).  There are numerous benefits in obeying God’s laws.  The benefit in obeying God was that their morality and spirituality was unique amongst the nations.  There was no nation like Israel.  God’s define success as faithfulness to God.  It is not like the definition of the secular world.

     2.       The Purpose of experience at Horeb

Horeb also referred to Mt. Sinai.  The old generations had died and new generations had arrived.  The new generations needed to be reminded of the laws before they enter the Promised Land.  The tendency from history was that often the Israelites turned against God.  We are also the same, so it is good to remind ourselves of the goodness of God too.  In our current context, it is the parents who are to remind the children of God’s goodness and not the responsibility of the Church.

    3.        Prohibition against idolatry

We should not make any image to represent God.  Moses reminded the people how God has delivered them from their difficulties like delivering them from Egypt.  Israel belongs to God.

    4.       Prophesy of the dispersion of the Israelites

As the Israelites disobeyed God, they were dispersed among the nations.  The Israelites were held captives of the Assyrians and also the Babylonians.  They were held in Babylon for 70 years.  Moses told them to repent and God will not abandon them.

    5.       Acknowledge that the Lord alone is God

God reminded them of Creation, of God promised to Abraham and the deliverance from Egypt.  Also God reminded them of the Mt. Sinai experiences, the parting of the Red sea, the pillar of fire in the desert, and God feeding them with manna.

    6.       Cities of refuge

Moses dedicated three cities, Golan, Ramoth, and Bezer as cities of refuge.  These were for people who committed murders unintentionally where they could stay to avoid being punished.

Summary

Israelites were redeemed people. They will prosper if they obey God. But they had short memories and they continued to disobey God.  We are the same.  We need to be reminded from time to time to repent and come back to God.  God give us freedom, but there are consequences of our actions.  It seems that many western nations are in turmoil because they have forgot God in things they do.  In a sense, they disobey God.  In earlier times, many western nations prospered as they followed God.